The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-06-16
TO HILTON HEAD.

Michigan Volunteers, Jackson, Mich.,)
our regiment together with the 10Th
N. Y. Highlanders), embarked at
Annapolis. Md, on the huge ocean
steamer Vanderbilt. and wentto Fortress
Monroe. We remained anchored at
the mouth of Hampton Roads about
10 days, and ten tiresome days they
were. To be shut up in camp for
that period in the bloom Of our enthu-
siasm would have been considered
downright insult to US who had
fastened on to Washington in defense
Of the flag; but to be cooped up on the
hurricane deck of ship at anchor-it
was too much.
The 10Th was quartered in the for
ward part of the boat, and ! am sorry
to say that at that time certain cold
ness existed between the two regiments;
which was but natural. for the High
landers had been tried and found not
wanting at first Bull Run, while we
were only green recruits from Michigan.
How we envied them; how we longed to
prove to them that we only wanted an
opportunity in order to make record
for ourselves.
At last the long-wished for day ar
rived, when the flagship Wabash sent
her pennant to the masthead as a sig
nal for departure. The Vanderbilt
being the largest and fastest steamer of
the feet took in tow the four-masted
sailing vessel Great Republic, which
was loaded principally with horses and
forage for the expedition.
The first three days we had as love-
" sailing as one could wish for. The
sea had the appearance of a huge mir
ror, except an occasional disturbance
caused by school Of flying fish or the
putting and plunging Of lazy porpoi ses.
The fleet consisted Of about 80 vessels
Of all craft, and kept well together un-
til the afternoon of the 31st, when the
sky began to darken, and occasional
gusts Of wind gave warning of an APP
preaching storm.
Up to this time we had kept the Great
Republic in tow by means of two four
inch hawsers. but the lurching Of the
two monster ships became SO great
that for the safety of both it was
deemed best to cut the cables and let
the sailing vessel take care of herself.
As soon as this was accomplished the
Vanderbilt changed her course sea-
ward, in order, it was said to keepclear
Of rocks and sand bars. had read of
the ''perils Of the Deep but that night
experience fixed the scenes in my men,
DRY better than though had read of a
hundred storms.
Towards evening we were ordered
below, as the waves were beginning to
sweep over the decks, and it became
necessary to close the matches; but it
was no easy matter to force lot of
frightened fellows like us down under
two or three decks. and then be locked
in. The result was that quite num-
Der of US were allowed to stay on top.
Myself and few others crawled under
one of the lifeboats that was lying
bottom up. near the stern, on the hur-
ricane deck, at which place we also had
most OF our camp equipage stored, and
staid there until quite dark, when q
sudden lurch Of the ship loosened q lot
OF our camp utensils and other truck and
SENT THEM FLYING AROUND Us.
This fearful racket, together with the
vivid flashes of lightning. the thunder
and rain, made me feel as if our time
had come.
/ crawled from under the boat to
to try and make out what the trouble
was, but found it impossible to remain
on the open deck, SO crept over to the
seat along the side rail, where l lasheI
myself to the seat securely with small
rope ! got hold of; my head towards
the stern of the vessel, thus
affordiDg an opportunity to see
what was going on ahead. 1t was
now raining in torrents, but, although
without shelter of any description,
didn't mind it. My greatest fear was
that Of falling asleep during the night
and being washed oerboard.
From my position had fine view
the whole length of the deck during
each flash of lightning, and there were
times when those flashes were so rapid
that the deck was brightly illuminated
for several minutes at time. The
appearance of the sea was to me grand,
yet terrible. Millions of diamonds
seemed to sparkle in the waves, look
ing as If the very water was on fire.
Directly ahead would come an immense
wave, which looked as if i'm an instant
it would bury us all out of sight; but it
wouldn't. Instead of going through it
we passed over it, and as we descended
on the other side it seemed as though
we were plunging straight down to the
bottom of the sea, but at that very
moment we would meet another wave
like the one just passed.
1t was this same thing over and over
all night. except for short time when
snO Oo0S 9OS SWAuS uAOuAO iHUO LAC
trough of the sea, causing rocking
motion, the waves
SWEEPING THE HURRICANE DECK,
and at times the main yards dipped the
water. Soon, however, the vessel was
got under control again, and we re-
newed the process Of climbing the
waves instead of rolling over them.
Thus passed the night, and when day
at last came, when a contrast with the
morning before! Then it was smooth
sailing, our whole fleet in sight, as also
the shores of North Carolina to oul
right. Now we we're alone; not a sail
in sight, no land, nothing but the sea
and our ship on which to feast our eyes
The storm had abated. and the long,
rolling swells had taken the place ofthe
mountainous waves of the night.
TN n thso tsv,no I bod Eo,,f IN v,roffv